dingleberry

noun

din·​gle·​ber·​ry ˈdiŋ-gəl-ˌber-ē 

-ˌbe-rē

plural dingleberries

1

US, informal : a foolish, stupid, or contemptible person

Something about human nature makes us all think we are the best drivers on the road at any given time. It's everyone else who are the dingleberries.

—Kelly Kazek

They shouldn't have to leave jobs they love with people they like—because of some dingleberry with a wandering eye.

—Caroline Overington

2

: a cranberry (Vaccinium erythrocarpum) of the southeastern U.S.

also : its small dark red berry

3

slang : a piece of dried fecal matter clinging to the hair around the anus

Get over the ick factor and check your pet's rear regularly to make sure no dingleberries are dangling from his fur.

—Kim Campbell Thornton

Word History

Etymology

dingle- (of uncertain origin) + berry entry 1

Note: Cf. earlier dilberry, dillberry, dingbat, in the meaning of sense 3; sense 1 perhaps derived from sense 3.

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 3